With build season coming to an end, we are working harder than ever! This past week we've been finishing up out intake design, submitting awards, programming, and other things to get ready before competition.

On Saturday we demonstrated our robot and spread the FIRST message at the Yale Pathways Science on Saturdays!

​​It is that time of the year to start making our bumpers! We tape pool noodles onto pieces of wood the same size as our robot frame.

We are proud to announce that we are building our smallest robot ever! With the size being 22x24, we are even smaller than last year's Brick 2.0!Now to come up with a name......#pebble?

We finish our day with a delicious slice of pizza from a local pizza place here in New Haven. Yum!

Today we worked on redesigning our "roller claw", the previous cube intake that we designed. We used the claw part of the intake and attached it to a wooden board. The board had a bar attached in the back providing a "lever" inspired design. The lever could be adjusted to different heights, which is perfect for intaking at different levels and placing the cubes at different heights.

This design was inspired by FRC Spectrum 3847's intake. We have to "Steal from the best and invent the rest!"

The 2018 robot is in the process! The belly pan has been mounted, now we are ready to start wiring!

​Outside of the workshop, the team works on their outreach by hosting demonstrations at magnet school fairs. The children seem to be having so much fun!

​It's now week 5 but we're still working on our prototypes. We have so many brilliant ideas but we need to decide which ones we're going to use for our 2018 robot! This picture shows a couple of students and mentors measuring how far our prototype launches a cube!

More than halfway through build season and we're working harder than ever. So much has happened this week; It is safe to say that this has been one of our most productive weeks so far.

Check out this super cool engraved part! With our new CNC router, we can customize our parts with our own logo. Catch our 2018 robot with these special parts!#558#FSU#CNCactuallyworking #it'slit

We've been keeping up with our vlog game so make sure to stay updated on all of our videos. Our most recent vlog can teach you a couple tips on how you can accurately proportion a piece and cut it out. Go and watch it by clicking the button below!

Some of our students worked on deburring the pieces to start the chassis for our 2018 robot. The pieces were first CADed and then they were milled. After assembling the frame (and reassembling), bearing blocks were put in for the future bearings.

The team took a trip to West Rock elementary school on Tuesday to give a small demonstration to the kindergarten through fourth grade students. After a brief presentation, we got to show and talk to them about our 2016 robot . Participants got a chance to catch the ball shot from the robot and they also got to drive it too. Excitement buzzed throughout the entire school; the kids had an amazing time.

​First, second, third, and fourth graders used their knowledge of geometric shapes and artistic design to draw and color their very own robots! How cute!

FLL team Lightspeed from Milford, one of the teams we mentored, paid us a visit on Thursday. We showed them around our workshop, taught them a little about our robots, and answered any questions that they had. It was a wonderful experience for both teams to interact and have a little fun together.

​Ahhh, we're so close in developing a successful horizontal roller prototype. Hopefully we'll be able to finish soon!

The team worked hard today hosting a bake sale after school to raise money for the team. We had so many delicious goodies including chips, cupcakes, cookies, donuts and more!

​The team gathered for a meeting on Tuesday to discuss main priorities and goals. As the season progresses, we will keep on changing our priorities. At the end of the meeting we concluded that our drive train is our main priority followed by scoring in the switch.

​Check out this adorable mickey and minnie cut by the CNC router! Hopefully we can use the CNC to make useful parts for our robot.